Help! Brand new to GF/celiac issues.

[annexk8]

I need some major wisdom here! My doctor, based on some minor symptoms I'd been having, ordered a blood test for gluten sensitivity. It came back today, positive for IgA (I scored 47, with less than 8 considered normal). I didn't talk to my doctor today (and of course it's the long weekend. argh), but the nurse said I was "positive for celiac."

I'm trying to figure out if this test actually means celiac disease, or gluten intolerance (and what is the difference?). Or does it mean I could be allergic to something else entirely or in addition? Should I be asking for more testing? Should I go GF right now or will that mess up later testing?

I just don't know where to start! This is very overwhelming and it's not the result I was expecting. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[dandilion44]

I took my son to a GI specialist (which was pretty much a waste of time) but he mentioned that the blood test is 90 percent accurate for gluten sensitivity. I believe the only true test for celiac is a scope. But my understanding is that you need to completely eliminate gluten regardless of whether it's a sensitivity or celiac (but others chime in if that is not right). Sorry about your news I know it is fairly common to be asymptomatic.

[kjbrown92]

A scope/biopsy is considered the gold standard, and you do have to be consuming gluten for it to be accurate. Some doctors will say just the blood test is fine, and not do the scope, and others want to do the scope to assess the damage. If it was a celiac test, then the elevated numbers would indicate celiac. There are gluten intolerance tests, but that would be different. There's also celiac gene tests. So it depends what kind of test you had what it would show. But yes, if you're celiac or "simply" gluten intolerant, you have to avoid all gluten. For my friend who has two sons with celiac (they had the blood test and the biopsy), they were told to avoid oats (gluten free or not) for the first year. Their numbers didn't improve that much the next year when they were checked (but the mom was letting them have the "host" every week at church, and letting them have cross-contaminated french fries once a month, etc.) so they were told to avoid oats for another year. So that one is a maybe.